Streamer Ai Mogami Killed During Livestream in Japan
A shocking incident recently occurred in Japan. A 22-year-old streamer named Ai Mogami (real name Sato Airi) was livestreaming on the streets of Tokyo when a man approached her and stabbed her, killing her live in front of her viewers.
The crime took place around 10 a.m. on March 11. The man who killed her, Takano Kenichi, aged 42, stabbed her in the neck and stomach, according to authorities. But what motivated this terrible crime? The answer is money.
Streamer Ai Mogami Killed During Livestream in Japan
The location of the attack was about 350 meters southwest of JR Takadanobaba Station. A 53-year-old construction worker on the second floor of a building about 50 meters away said he heard a woman screaming outside just before 10 a.m.
The screams continued for several dozen seconds, he said. He rushed to a window and saw a woman in a gray hoodie lying on her back. A man in a dark coat was standing over her.
“The man seemed to be talking to her. He looked very calm, so I thought he was helping her,” the construction worker said. He saw a passerby making a phone call, and the police arrived about five minutes later and began questioning the calm man.
The worker noted that there is a school nearby, but the area is relatively quiet except during commuting hours. “I can’t believe something like this happened so close to me,” he said. “The woman’s screams are stuck in my head.”
Mogami died quickly after being stabbed multiple times, and Takano was arrested. That was when the police discovered that Ai Mogami owed Takano 2.5 million yen. Takano had taken out loans from multiple financial institutions to lend around 2.5 million yen (approximately $17,000) to Mogami. In December 2023, the Tochigi Branch of the Utsunomiya District Court ruled in Takano’s favor, ordering Mogami to repay the full amount. However, as reported, Mogami did not repay the money.
Details about the exact nature of their relationship are limited, but it is known that Takano began visiting bars and clubs where Mogami worked when she was 18, and he was 38. Recently, a man named Yui Daiken, who claims to be Mogami’s fiancé, shared information on the platform X, alleging that he lived with her. A web manga artist, Yashiro Azuki, supported Daiken’s claims, but there are doubts about the authenticity of the supposed fiancé’s identity.
Friends of Mogami revealed complex aspects of her life. Raised in Yamagata, she faced neglect from her mother, who spent her days intoxicated. Even after becoming an adult and working as a hostess, her mother exploited her financially. Over time, Mogami also developed alcohol problems, leading to the loss of custody of her child.
After moving to Tokyo, Mogami focused on her career as a streamer. Despite being seen as hardworking, friends said she exaggerated her financial success. Claims of having saved 20 million yen were likely exaggerated to impress on social media.
” Ai Mogami” was a high-ranking livestreamer (platinum rank) on the live-streaming app “Fuwacchi,” which allows donations. On the app, the killer Takano used the username “Majilove.”
On January 10 of last year, Mogami suddenly sent a direct message on Takano’s social network, asking if he had time to talk. The developments from there can be understood through Takano’s exchanges with a contact on LINE, as shown in testimonies #4, #5, and #6.
“They said they wanted to make a deal for me not to write or talk to anyone about Ai Mogami, as she wanted to make money from the lives to pay off the debt. But in the middle of the conversation, her boyfriend showed up, and it seemed like they wanted me to sign a contract. I thought they were in on it together. It seemed suspicious, so I just gave vague answers and said I’d consult my lawyer.” (Takano)
“The boyfriend said he also lent Ai money, that they’re no longer dating, but since she can’t rent a house, he’s letting her live with him and helping with his business or something.” (Takano)
“She said she would have to leave the house she lives in by February and asked me to resolve something by then. When I suggested she do lives, she said she couldn’t because Majilove would expose everything — it’s super suspicious, right? lol” (Takano)
Acquaintance of the Killer Speaks About Him
“I’ve always been listening to Ken-san’s concerns. I know what happened between him and Mogami-san and how he felt. Of course, I don’t think there’s ever a justification for killing someone, and it’s something that can never be forgiven. However, I want people to know the facts of what really happened between them. At the very least, I can say it wasn’t just a case of a romantic misunderstanding, and what I heard from him is not entirely irrelevant to the case.”
A friend of Takano continued: “I think at first, Ken believed Mogami’s messages saying she would repay the money. But even after almost three years, she didn’t pay. He consulted lawyers, visited the Tochigi police station, made several attempts, but only managed to recover the first 30,000 yen he lent. I think he was really in a tough financial situation.
Once, while having lunch together, he vented, ‘Because of Mogami, I’m getting depressed and losing my mind.’ In October 2023, he came to the station near my house and asked me for money for his return ticket because he couldn’t afford it.”
“We met again in November last year. That time, he treated me to dinner to thank me for lending him money. We went to a small Japanese restaurant, and he paid in cash. But I was surprised when he bought me ice cream somewhere else.”
The surprise was that Takano paid 500 yen for the ice cream with a credit card and asked to split the payment.
“He told me his salary was 160,000 yen, but after paying rent, his phone bill, and debts, there was almost nothing left. He even sent me photos of the simple meals he made at home: rice, miso soup, and salad. He said his ‘treat’ of the month was a McDonald’s meal when he got paid.
Meanwhile, Mogami not only failed to repay the debt but lived with her boyfriend in a luxury apartment and shared her poker-playing life on social media. I imagine seeing all this must have been unbearable for Ken.”
Public Reaction
Online reactions from the Japanese public are divided — some side with the victim, while others sympathize with Takano.
Typically, when someone of some fame dies in Japan, a “memorial” is created where fans leave items to honor the deceased. However, in Mogami Ai’s case, the situation is complicated.
The spot where Mogami was murdered has become a memorial but also a space of disrespect. People left offensive items like sponges and alcohol, indicating moral judgment. The public reaction is divided — some blame Mogami for the situation, while others question the excessive hatred toward her even after her death.
The case has also stirred anxiety among those who borrowed money and failed to repay it. A screenshot of a conversation shows someone urgently promising to repay a loan after learning about the incident.
Among those defending Ai Mogami, some argue that the killer is entirely at fault since he chose to lend the money. If he didn’t want this outcome, he shouldn’t have given her the cash.
